What's eating my colocasia elena?

Colocasia Elena, with its lime-green to chartreuse foliage, is attractive to spider mites, aphids, and — in garden beds — slugs and deer. Its tender new growth is especially vulnerable to sucking insects. Prompt treatment prevents leaf distortion and loss of the variety's signature pale coloring.

Tiny webs on leaf undersides; foliage develops pale stippling and loses its bright green luminosity Raise humidity, rinse leaves thoroughly, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days

Soft-bodied insects clustered on tender growing tips; sticky honeydew coats leaves and may encourage sooty mold Dislodge with a firm water spray; follow up with insecticidal soap or a dilute neem drench

Irregular holes eaten through large leaves overnight; mucus trails left on foliage and surrounding soil Hand-pick at dusk, use iron-phosphate pellets, and clear away mulch that provides daytime shelter

Leaves and stems browsed down to stubs; damage is sudden and extensive, especially in summer Apply motion-activated repellent sprays or erect physical barriers; container placement out of reach is simplest